Let Matt Shoot: An open letter by Luke Bonner

Luke Bonner, the younger brother of red-headed Spurs sharpshooter Matt Bonner, has written an open letter to the NBA, posted at Flip Collective, stating the case for his sibling’s inclusion in the up-coming 3-point shootout at All-Star Weekend.

As you’d expect from a Bonner, it’s very much tongue-in-cheek.

Luke shoots down the notion of The Bonner being not marketable enough by pointing out his own unique style:

In a league with an abundance of players wearing fluorescent sneakers and nonprescription post-game glasses, Matt manages to differentiate himself. By playing in New Balance sneakers and wearing post-game corduroy jackets, he has developed his own easily recognizable personal brand and stands out more than most.

He also notes the local student who was expelled last year for shaving The Bonner’s image into his hair, and the support of indie rock band The War on Drugs for his participation in the shootout:

They’re creating a movement to prevent Matt from being overlooked again, because they believe it’s what the people want.

Luke also goes serious by pointing out that The Bonner, despite his obvious limitations, ranks first in 3-point shooting percentage this season (47.4) and 12th in NBA history (41.7). Yes, critics will note that his postseason percentage plummets to 32.9, but those people can find a small bridge to hurl themselves from.

Overall, it’s a well-written, convincing piece of work that strikes all the right notes. But I also wonder if Luke didn’t set his sights high enough. After this moment of high-flying artistry, why not shoot for the slam dunk contest as well?